At the Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) Mombasa, the rhythmic echo of marching footsteps tames the air as a parade of fresh-faced students takes to the training ground.
With military precision, they move to the distinctive authoritative commands blared out by their drill instructor.
The scene is a striking glimpse. The place is dotted by a sea of students, each donning the academy’s signature uniform of black trousers and pristine white shirts, topped with a skipper’s cap—a nod to the deep maritime traditions they are now a part of. Their uniforms are perfectly pressed, catching the sun as they march with pride.
Gracefully, they glide across the parade ground, their movements almost flawless, a testament to their dedication and the rigorous training they have undergone.
It is a moment to remember. This pass-out parade marks the end of a transformative week for these 220 students—the first cohort to complete the grueling regimental training at BMA. Among them, Moses Juma stands tall. Having chosen to pursue a diploma in maritime transport and logistics, Juma, like many of his peers, is driven by the promise of the Blue Economy, which he believes is the next great frontier for growth and opportunity in Kenya.
For the academy, this ceremony represents a significant milestone. The new students have successfully completed their regimental training, an intense program conducted in collaboration with the National Youth Service (NYS). Over the past week, these trainees have been put through their paces, learning discipline, teamwork, and resilience—traits that will serve them well as they embark on their maritime careers.
As the students march in near-perfect symmetry, guests at the ceremony watch in awe, their faces lit with admiration. This is more than just a parade; it is a celebration of hard work, discipline, and the bright futures awaiting these young maritime cadets. The Bandari Maritime Academy is nurturing not only the next generation of seafarers but also the future custodians of the Blue Economy. With every step they take, these students are moving toward their place in a sector that is rapidly becoming one of Kenya’s most vital economic engines.
“After reading a lot of literature on the Blue Economy and the opportunities it carries I researched and realized that the immense opportunities in the sector are worldwide. This is why I am here and after passing out I believe I am ready for the training and certainly what’s ahead,” explained Juma.
Bandari Maritime Academy CEO, Dr Eric Katana said the newly introduced training which was developed by the Academy in partnership with NYS is intended to equip and prepare the students to be in sync with the standards and discipline of world-class seafarers.
“Basically this training is intended to help our students to study with high levels of discipline because we have realized that seafarers are required to uphold high levels of discipline while working aboard international vessels. We therefore want to create a good brand of Kenyan seafarers we produce who can maintain a good image of the Country across the globe. The students came for their normal programs of certificate and diploma but we thought it wise to take them through the regimental training in the first week and they have passed out and gone through orientation ready to begin their studies,” explained Dr Katana.
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Senior Principal Trainer in charge of Nautical Sciences at BMA Maj. Rtd. Franklyne Toniok says the regimental training is a new training at the Academy and is likely to bolster the job opportunity chances for the cohort of trainees as they come out more polished and complete for the job market.
“It actually started with the current lot of the class which is the diploma is nautical science, diploma in marine engineering and diploma is maritime transport and logistics as well as the equivalent certificate courses. The purpose of this regimental training is to build the discipline of the students, as well as to build a culture. We want to build a BMA culture that is unique from any other maritime training institution in the country,” explains Toniok saying “regimental training is something that is taking the shipping industry by storm.”
The Principal Nautical Science Trainer with nine years of sea time, further hints that most shipping industries lately prefer to recruit students who have undergone regimental training as they consider them well indoctrinated, with unquestionable discipline and with physical fitness that is beyond reproach.
“While working onboard a ship, physical fitness is of vital importance. You will be climbing vertical ladders, it’s called pilot ladders, accommodation ladders, going down the hatches, opening the valves here and there… so that physical fitness is important…secondly we want students who are disciplined so as to obey the orders and instructions…. There is an orderly way of working on board a ship and that is what most of the shipping industries nowadays are looking at and that is how we came up with the idea of instituting the training,” he said.
The initial days of the new training he said was heavily based on drills and physical fitness. Coming ahead, he said periodic regimental training programmes will be introduced consisting of drills, dining etiquette, aspects of housekeeping, physical fitness and swimming sessions.
“All these will be integrated within their learning, so that at the end of the training you will not only get a student who is competent academically and professionally, but also who has the aspect of discipline and is ready to fit into the industry,” he said.
According to Katana, the new training is important for maritime graduates from the country considering the fact that Kenya as a country relies on the international job market.
“The Blue Economy sector itself is international in nature. We as a country don’t own a ship. The students we produce here work in international vessels and this is why we need to keep our standards up to par with the international standards,” explains the BMA boss.
The blue economy value chain entails ocean-based job opportunities in cruise and cargo ships sailing the high seas. Such include seafarers, maintenance units, navigation teams, and hospitality. There are also land-based jobs in ports, docks, and landing bays for ground crew, workers in Container Freight Stations (CFS) and landing zones for fishing trawlers. There are also establishment of ponds for fish farming inland, among other opportunities.
By Hilton Mwabili
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